If Marv had been awarded the decision over SRL, I don't know who he would have faced next, but I can guarantee he would not have retired just yet. Hagler wanted to set the all time record for successful middleweight title defenses held by Monzon. Assuming he managed to top Monzon, that's the point where he would have elected to retire.

You know i've always bought that he was talking retirement and was about to quit, but now you say what you do i'm not sure if i got that from a substanciated source or simply happened to have read it in here. I have an inkling it was from a proven source but you've certainly opened it up a bit. Without me having to look it up, how many more did he need without counting the Leonard fight?

There was talk about a second match against Hearns for the following year, so I believe that is what would have happened.

Actually i believe he was set to fight Hearns but Leonard made his offer and Hagler fought him instead. Hagler - Mugabi and Hearns - Schuler on the same card was to build up interest in their upcoming rematch as well as get Hearns to prove himself again right away against the top ranked Middle, which Schuler was. Hearns was actually offered money incentives to knock Schuler out early, the sooner = more money. Then Leonards offer filtered thru. That's my recollection.

I believe Hagler would have retired. He'd probably have said "Ive done everything and done what I wanted to do in the sport". He'd have looked over his shoulder at the likes of Nunn and Graham and said "thanks, but no thanks". Money talks though, so with others previously mentioning on the thread a rematch with Leonard, or even Hearns, those options would not have been out of the question.

Actually i believe he was set to fight Hearns but Leonard made his offer and Hagler fought him instead. Hagler - Mugabi and Hearns - Schuler on the same card was to build up interest in their upcoming rematch as well as get Hearns to prove himself again right away against the top ranked Middle, which Schuler was. Hearns was actually offered money incentives to knock Schuler out early, the sooner = more money. Then Leonards offer filtered thru. That's my recollection.

Correct. During the summer of 86 was when Leonard started to make noises about fighting Hagler. The rematch with Hearns was pretty much in the making, however Hagler stated after his gruelling affair with Mugabi that retirement was a disinct possibility. Only when Leonard was keen on taking the challenge did Hagler finally accept later in the year. I'm sure it was a done deal around Sep/Oct 86.

Hagler probably said "Hearns, been there done that, Leonard a fresh challenge to get the juices flowing".

Hagler probably said "Hearns, been there done that, Leonard a fresh challenge to get the juices flowing".

Hagler - Hearns had been a superfight in the making for years. Hagler wanted it badly. Leonard put loads more money into his pocket than a Hearns rematch would have, and general thought was that Leonard would be easier to beat. Leonard - Hagler was one of those things destined to happen, and sure enough even when we thought it no chance along it came.

Hagler - Hearns had been a superfight in the making for years. Hagler wanted it badly. Leonard put loads more money into his pocket than a Hearns rematch would have, and general thought was that Leonard would be easier to beat. Leonard - Hagler was one of those things destined to happen, and sure enough even when we thought it no chance along it came.

Yeah. Hagler's purse for the rematch was $12 million. Im guessing a Hearns rematch he would have pocketed about $8 million max, maybe 10 at a push. And the inactivity of Leonard looked like easy meat on paper, with his drawing power creating more dollars. As you say bigger purse, less risk.

In hindsight, a big mistake. But if I was Hagler I'd have choosen Leonard as well.

Hagler - Hearns had been a superfight in the making for years. Hagler wanted it badly. Leonard put loads more money into his pocket than a Hearns rematch would have, and general thought was that Leonard would be easier to beat. Leonard - Hagler was one of those things destined to happen, and sure enough even when we thought it no chance along it came.

JT. Your avatars are getting rather saucy. Thats bordering on porn. Not quite, but rather appealing to say the least.

My own opinion would be that Hagler would have been up for the rematch but SRL would have declined. In MANY interviews SRL has stated his main objective was to go the distance with Hagler. Having achieved that the rematch would have been unlikely. Hagler would have only continued for big money, having become accustomed to it in the last few fights. Only Hearns would have been able to show him the money. Not sure he would have been up for it after all the tough fights. Hagler retires, probably.

Let's say Hagler had got that decision over SRL(whatver your opinion is)....what do you think would have happened next? rematch with SRL? rematch with Hearns? a match against McCallum, Tate, Nunn, Olajide?

He would probably end up losing to McCallum on a decision.His time was about up when the Sugarman got to him.

You know i've always bought that he was talking retirement and was about to quit, but now you say what you do i'm not sure if i got that from a substanciated source or simply happened to have read it in here. I have an inkling it was from a proven source but you've certainly opened it up a bit. Without me having to look it up, how many more did he need without counting the Leonard fight?

Marv successfully defended the undisputed middleweight championship 12 times, which remains an all time division record, one which might be unbreakable with the IBF and WBO thrown into the mix. However, in his own mind, Hagler considered Monzon, not Rodrigo Valdez, as the legitimate middleweight champion between 1974 and 1976 (during Valdez's five match WBC MW title winning streak). Nonetheless, if one wants to get strictly technical about it, Hagler broke Monzon's undisputed MW defense record against Mugabe, and can lay claim to holding it.

Carlos Monzon defended the undisputed middleweight title 11 times. His defenses against Mundine, Licata and Tonna were for the WBA title only, after he was stripped by the WBC for defending against Napoles instead of Valdez. (Incidentally, Hagler's match with SRL was only for the WBC title.) Bernard Hopkins made only one defense of the undisputed middleweight championship, his final one against Howard Eastman. (It took him that long to collect the WBA, WBC, IBF, and finally, the WBO version of the title from De La Hoya. At least in Hagler's day, it was just the WBC and WBA versions.)

Although Bob Arum was naturally thrilled with the excitement of the Hagler/Hearns barnburner, he stated after that war that he didn't consider a rematch between Marv and Tommy to be viable after the definitive conclusion of their brief affair. However, Arum also said after the 15 rounder between Hagler and Duran that he would be "honored" to arrange a rematch between those two. Because Hagler, Hearns, Duran and SRL were all promoted by Arum and Top Rank, this essentially reveals the feasibility of those rematches taking place.